Afghanistan: NATO Force

Lord Blaker: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What representations they are making to NATO member countries which are not contributing to the NATO force in Afghanistan to make such a contribution.

Lord Drayson: All 26 NATO member countries are currently contributing to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan: NATO Force

Lord Blaker: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What representations they are making to NATO member countries which are already contributing to the NATO force in Afghanistan to increase their contribution.

Lord Drayson: Identification of additional forces and capabilities for deployment to Afghanistan is a matter for the supreme allied commander Europe using the NATO force generation process. We are working closely with NATO allies and non-NATO troop contributors to ensure that commanders on the ground have access to the resources they need to carry out the International Security Assistance Force mission.

Agriculture: Environmental Stewardship Agreement

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What percentage of England's total agricultural area is subject to an Environmental Stewardship agreement.

Lord Rooker: There are approximately 9.1 million available hectares of agricultural land in England. Of these, around 3.4 million hectares (or about 37 per cent of England's total agricultural area) are subject to an Environmental Stewardship agreement.
	Assuming that the uptake of agreements continues to increase at about the present rate, we are well on the way to achieving our target of 60 per cent uptake by December 2007.

Aviation: Passenger Data

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How the new agreement between the European Union and the Government of the United States on the processing and transfer of passenger name record data by air carriers to the United States Department of Homeland Security varies from the previous agreement; and how the new agreement conforms with European data protection principles.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The new agreement does not vary significantly from the previous agreement. The key difference is that it has a Third-Pillar legal base rather than a First-Pillar one, in order to comply with the European Court of Justice ruling of 30 May. Unlike a First-Pillar agreement, a Third-Pillar agreement requires domestic implementation measures, and this has been done through a direction under the Air Navigation Order requiring airlines to provide PNR data. At present, the US authorities pull information from airlines' reservation systems, but it is intended to move to a system in which airlines push data to the US as soon as possible.
	Like the 2004 agreement, the new agreement is due to expire in late 2007. The new agreement refers to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) instead of US Customs and Border Protection (which is part of the DHS) to reflect changes to the internal structure of the US Administration. However, the DHS is giving the same undertakings in support of the new agreement as the CBP gave in relation to the 2004 agreement. In a letter to the EU, the DHS has set out how it interprets those undertakings in the light of developments, including new US legislation, since 2004.
	The changes to the agreement do not materially affect the level of data protection for individuals. Although the data protection directive does not apply to the processing of personal data in the Third Pillar, the new agreement reflects the same data protection principles as the old one.

Banks: Accounts

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Department for Trade and Industry and HM Treasury will discuss with commercial banks in the United Kingdom what measures can be taken to ensure that there is no growth in the number of involuntary packaged current and instant access savings accounts with unsolicited benefits which have not been requested by their customers.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: This issue falls under the remit of the banking code. The banking code is a voluntary code that sets the minimum standards of service that personal customers can expect from all banks and building societies. The banking code is monitored and enforced by the Banking Code Standards Board, which is currently looking into this issue.

Banks: Money Transfers

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their response to the conclusions of the official report into the processing of money transfers by banks throughout the world by the Belgian Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) organisation and the use of information held by SWIFT by the United States security authorities.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: The Belgian Data Privacy Commission, a Belgian statutory body, published a domestic report on this matter in September. The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) is an industry-owned co-operative, headquartered in Belgium. I refer the noble Lord to the updated statement on compliance posted by SWIFT on its website (www.swift.com/index.cfm?item_id=60275) and to its response to the report (www.swift.com/index.cfm?item_id=60670).

Benefits: Incapacity Benefit

Lord Skelmersdale: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What recent representations they have received on their target to reduce the number of people on incapacity benefits.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Government have set themselves the long-term aim of an 80 per cent employment rate to ensure they deliver opportunity to all. This means that we aspire to reduce by 1 million the number of people claiming incapacity benefits over the next decade.
	The Government have consulted widely during the development of our welfare reform proposals. From January to April 2006 we carried out a formal public consultation, receiving over 600 responses addressing the full range of welfare reform issues. We continue to liaise closely with a wide range of stakeholders, lobby groups and service users, meeting as many as possible.

British Citizenship

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What commitments they have made regarding the official register of persons registered under Article 4(2) of the Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986; and whether they will arrange for officials in the United Kingdom to have direct access to this register, subject to appropriate data protection safeguards.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We have made no specific commitments regarding the register of persons registered as British nationals overseas under the 1986 order. The register is maintained by the British consulate-general in Hong Kong and there is no direct access by officials in the United Kingdom. The list is accessed only through the staff of the consulate-general. Public access is subject to the restrictions in the Data Protection Act 1998.

British Citizenship

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, having regard to Section 12 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002, they will equalise the position of solely British nationals overseas with other solely British nationals without citizenship, by introducing legislation to repeal Section 1(1)(a), (2)(a) and (3)(a) of the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1997.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: As the noble Lord will be aware from the debates during the passage of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 (Official Report, 7/2/06, cols. 623-27, and 14/3/06, cols. 1198-1201) we are not persuaded that there is a case for doing so.

Cattle Grids

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why English Nature will not adjust its proposed locations for cattle grids surrounding Holt Heath, Dorset, to take into account local knowledge, noise pollution, road safety and animal welfare.

Lord Rooker: Holt Heath is a site of special scientific interest, part of the Dorset Heaths special protection area, a special area of conservation and a Ramsar site. It is also registered common land. Holt Heath is owned by the National Trust and has been managed as a national nature reserve since 1981 by English Nature (now Natural England).
	The National Trust and English Nature, as owners and managers respectively, recognised that extensive, low-intensity stock grazing was required to bring the site into favourable condition and to contribute to the Government's public service agreement target for SSSIs. Since 2000, extensive discussions have been held with all interested parties, including the Open Spaces Society and highway engineers, on how grazing can safely be re-established. The proposed cattle grids, the locations of which are supported by highways design consultants and county council highway engineers, are necessary to achieve this.
	Despite this extensive consultation, some objections were sustained. Because the proposals include works on common land, the Secretary of State ordered a public inquiry, held before an independent inspector, which was held in August 2006. The decision is awaited.

Chemicals Regulations: REACH

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What budget will be allocated to the Health and Safety Executive in order that it may fulfil its role as the United Kingdom competent authority to implement the European Union registration, evaluation and authorisation of chemicals (REACH) directive.

Lord Rooker: The Government announced on 10 October 2006 that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has been asked to fulfil the role of competent authority for the REACH regulatory regime. Detailed arrangements are being finalised. However, the HSE has already agreed to deliver helpdesk activities in 2006-07 from existing resources and it has requested funding of approximately £1 million for 2007-08. Funding for future years will be considered as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review process.

Civil Service: Face Covering

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether guidance has been issued to civil servants and other officials carrying out government business on the permissibility of covering their faces when meeting members of the public; and, if so in what circumstances officials may cover their faces.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The setting of dress code standards for civil servants is the responsibility of individual departments. No central guidance has been issued by the Cabinet Office. It is for departments to decide the dress code standards that are suitable for their particular business.

Cremation: Scattering of Ashes

Lord Harrison: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will clarify the law in respect of those wishing to scatter the ashes of deceased loved ones in public places, in response to the article in the Edge magazine published in July by the Economic and Social Research Council indicating that the law was unclear.

Lord Rooker: The Environment Agency provides guidance on places where the spreading of human cremation ashes should be avoided and can also advise anyone wishing to spread ashes on a river so that they do so with minimum environmental impact. Local authorities can advise people considering the spreading of human ashes elsewhere. The Environment Agency can be contacted via its national customer contact centre. The telephone number is 08708 506506.

Crime: Mental Health Act

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the use of electronic tagging is employed for individuals detained or sectioned under the Mental Health Act 1983.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: No. Patients detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 should be managed in accordance with their clinical needs. Where detention is necessary for the prevention of harm it must be in a clinical environment—where tagging would serve no useful purpose. Potentially dangerous patients should not be discharged into the community if they are sufficiently dangerous to require regular monitoring of their location.

Energy: Dounreay Fast Breeder Reactor

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the total cost of building and operating the fast breeder reactor at Dounreay during its operational life; how long will it take to decommission the plant; and at what total cost.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The prototype fast reactor was estimated upon completion in 1974 to have cost approximately £40 million. Annual operating costs for the fast reactor programme averaged £50 million per year. The PFR closed in 1994 (these costs are quoted in cash of the year). The most recent estimate published in the site lifetime plan for the cost of decommissioning the PFR is in the region of £300 million. Decommissioning is due to be complete by 2033.

Energy: Dounreay Fast Breeder Reactor

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	For how long the area occupied by the fast breeder reactor at Dounreay and its environs will be considered dangerously radioactive; and what measures are in place to prevent access to the area by the general public.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The radiological hazards from the fast reactor programme at Dounreay are identified in the site's lifetime plan, which is revised annually by UKAEA and published by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. The plan sets out how these hazards are being removed or reduced, so that by 2033 all remaining radioactive wastes and materials will be in a passive condition that is safe for long-term storage or disposal. UKAEA is consulting the public about the condition of the site in 2033, and the outcome of this will determine the degree of ground remediation that needs to be undertaken. So long as Dounreay remains a licensed nuclear site, access by the public will be restricted.
	National policy decisions on the long-term management of radioactive wastes and materials and the extent of ground remediation required will be factors that affect the length of time after 2033 that Dounreay remains a licensed nuclear site.

Energy: Dounreay Fast Breeder Reactor

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether any areas of beaches and the seabed in the vicinity of the fast breeder reactor at Dounreay are contaminated by radioactive materials; and, if so, how long the contamination is likely to persist.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Since the start of operations at Dounreay in the 1950s, the site has been authorised at various times to dispose of solid, liquid and gaseous radioactivity to the environment. It has been a condition of these authorisations that the environmental impact is measured and reported. This has shown that the elevated levels of radioactivity found in the environment around Dounreay as a result of authorised disposals are well below the limits for public exposure to radioactivity. In addition, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency carries out its own monitoring, and the results are published annually in the Radioactivity in Food and the Environment series.
	It is now known that particulate in the form of fragments of irradiated nuclear fuel entered the liquid effluent disposal system at Dounreay and was discharged to sea. Seabed surveys have detected these fragments, or particles, in the sediment near the old discharge point. The action of the sea on the sediment is thought to transport the particles, which have been detected during routine monitoring of the beaches at Sandside and Dunnet and the foreshore at Dounreay. UKAEA, on behalf of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, is consulting on feasible options for remediation. The outcome of this consultation is expected to help identify environmentally acceptable methods of dealing with this issue. UKAEA believes it will not be practicable to retrieve all particles released from the site, but the offshore source should be substantially reduced. Any particles detected on local beaches as a result of regular inspections are removed.

Family Planning

Baroness Tonge: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What provision is being made for family planning in socially excluded groups in the population.

Lord Warner: It is for primary care trusts to determine what level of contraceptive service they provide and whom they commission the services from in order to meet the needs of their local population.
	The Medical Foundation for AIDS and Sexual Health's Recommended standards for sexual health services (2005) (which was funded and endorsed by the Department of Health) highlights that services and information should be developed to meet the needs of particular groups of people who are at risk of sexual health inequalities, including those who cannot or do not access mainstream services.

Family Planning

Baroness Tonge: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessment has been made of the provision for family planning services by primary care trusts; and
	When they expect to publish the results of their audit of contraceptive services announced in their White Paper Choosing Health.

Lord Warner: Primary care trusts were invited to complete an audit of contraceptive services earlier this year. The data are still being analysed and the results will be published in our forthcoming best practice guidance on reproductive health later this year.

Fashion

Lord Fearn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much they estimate the English fashion industry contributed to the balance of payments in the last two full years.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: The information requested falls within the responsibilities of the national statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, National Statistician, dated 23 October 2006.
	The Office for National Statistics does not compile estimates of the balance of payments on an industry basis; neither is there an internationally recognised definition of the fashion industry. Therefore, the information requested is not available from official sources.

Fishing

Lord Mason of Barnsley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have made an assessment of organisations involved in anti-angling campaigns; which regions have been most adversely affected by such campaigns; what prosecutions have taken place; and in what locality; and
	What assistance is being given to the Countryside Alliance and similar organisations such as fishery owners to create a network of defences against the activities of anti-angling activists.

Lord Rooker: The Environment Agency is responsible for promoting angling and its environmental, economic and social benefits. The issue of anti-angling activists is a matter of civil breach of the peace and is therefore a matter for the police. I am unable to comment on any prosecutions.
	While the Government support a person's right to legitimate, peaceful protest, people also have a right to be free to carry out their lawful business or recreation without fear of intimidation and violence, however much that activity is disliked by others.
	What is totally unacceptable are the campaigns of intimidation and violence against individuals and law-abiding businesses by animal rights extremists. The Government have in place a cross-departmental strategy to eradicate the threat of animal rights extremism.
	We are ensuring that sufficient attention is paid to the threat from animal rights extremists, whoever the target, and that law enforcement agencies continue to be effective in maintaining the necessary spotlight on the issues.
	Police forces treat all incidents related to animal rights extremism very seriously, including activity targeting recreational angling. The police will continue to monitor campaigns and respond accordingly to any increase in unlawful incidents.
	My colleagues from the Home Office are also meeting representatives of the angling community to discuss anti-angling activities.

Food: Bowland Dairy Products

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action they are taking or propose to take following the decision of the European Commission to ban the sale of products from Bowland Dairy Products of Barrowford, Nelson, Lancashire, and to order national Governments to trace and destroy any old stocks of cheese from the company.

Lord Warner: In accordance with their community obligations, the Government will make the implementing legislation necessary to implement and enforce the decision in the United Kingdom. Government departments will continue to work with the European Commission to address the issues raised by this case.

Food: Bowland Dairy Products

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their response to the decision of the European Union Food and Veterinary Office to inspect the British dairy sector in November following the investigation involving Bowland Dairy Products.

Lord Warner: European Commission experts are required by law to carry out general and specific audits in member states to verify that member states' official controls are carried out in accordance with European rules. The Commission's Food and Veterinary Office may undertake such audits at any time.
	Member states are required to co-operate fully with the European Commission experts, and the Food Standards Agency will, on behalf of the Government, do this in relation to the dairy sector audit planned for November.

Fuel: Taxation

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Following the publication of the European Commission's review of the derogations in annexes II and III of Council directive 2003/96/EC dated 30 June in respect of tax rates on fuel used by private pleasure craft and private pleasure air navigation, whether they intend to apply to the Commission for a continuation of the derogation to allow the use of low-tax fuel; and, if so, what are the specific policy considerations that are required in paragraph 3 of this review to support such an application.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in his Budget Statement that the Government would apply for formal renewal of the derogations allowing for a reduced rate of fuel used by private pleasure craft, for private air navigation, and for waste oil reused as fuel. In line with the timetable set out by the European Commission, the UK has now submitted formal applications for the renewal of these derogations.
	These applications highlight the disproportionate compliance and administrative costs that would arise if the derogations were not renewed, as well as the negative economic impact in the sectors concerned, compared with the limited revenue and environmental benefits that might be gained from ending the derogations.

Government Departments: Financial Reporting

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Department for Constitutional Affairs has any arrangements to enable staff of that department to raise, in confidence, concerns about matters of financial reporting, disclosure of other information or value for money; and, if so, whether they will give details of the arrangements.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: My department has the following arrangements:
	a whistleblowing policy and procedure that allows staff to report concerns on these issues and others where staff are being required to act in a way that conflicts with the Civil Service Code. Reporting can be direct to specially appointed nominated officers if normal reporting—for example, through line management—is considered inappropriate;fraud policies and fraud response plans, which include lists of contacts to whom staff can report matters of fraud or suspected fraud.

Government Departments: Financial Reporting

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Ministry of Defence has any arrangements to enable staff of that department to raise, in confidence, concerns about matters of financial reporting, disclosure of other information or value for money; and, if so, whether they will give details of the arrangements.

Lord Drayson: The Ministry of Defence does have arrangements in place to enable staff to report, in confidence, any concerns relating to financial reporting, irregularity including fraud and theft, or issues involving value for money. All members of staff are required to report any concerns to their immediate line management or chain of command. This requirement is entirely consistent with the provisions of the Civil Service Code and the onus placed upon line managers to address failings or concerns brought to their attention.

Government Departments: Financial Reporting

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has any arrangements to enable staff of that department to raise, in confidence, concerns about matters of financial reporting, disclosure of other information or value for money; and, if so, whether they will give details of the arrangements.

Lord Triesman: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has robust procedures in place and trained officers to support staff who wish to raise a concern about possible financial malpractice. The procedures incorporate feedback from the National Audit Office (NAO) earlier this year. They include details of the FCO's whistleblowing policy, the role and names of our six nominated officers, and contact numbers for the various hotlines. The procedures are regularly updated and circulated to staff, as well as covered in appropriate training courses.
	All FCO staff are encouraged to raise concerns about financial malpractice to the FCO's financial compliance unit or to the dedicated operational integrity section in UKvisas, tasked with the prevention and investigation of corruption in the operation of the immigration controls in posts overseas. Any concerns are treated in confidence and in accordance with the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998.
	If a member of staff prefers not to report any concerns internally they are encouraged to approach the NAO or the Civil Service Commissioners.
	The financial compliance unit reports statistics on whistleblowing cases to the FCO's audit and risk committee.

Government Departments: Financial Reporting

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether HM Treasury has any arrangements to enable staff of that department to raise, in confidence, concerns about matters of financial reporting, disclosure of other information or value for money; and, if so, whether they will give details of the arrangements.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: In accordance with the Civil Service Code, the Treasury has arrangements in place for staff to report to a nominated officer any concerns they might have about being required to act in an improper way, or any evidence they might have of criminal or unlawful activities by others. Copies of the Treasury's guidance on whistleblowing and the fraud response plan drawn up by internal audit have been placed in the Library of the House.

Gulf War Illnesses

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessment the Medical Research Council has made of the findings to date of the research at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in the United States on microglial activation following neurotoxic exposure: the self-propelling cycle of neuroinflammation in neurodegenerative disease and their possible relevance to illnesses among British veterans of the 1990-91 Gulf War; and
	What assessment the Medical Research Council has made of the findings to date of the research at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health in the United States on non-invasive imaging of inflammation in the central nervous system, and their possible relevance to illnesses among British veterans of the 1990-91 Gulf War.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Medical Research Council, through the Military Health Research Advisory Group (MHRAG), conducted a review of research into Gulf veterans' illness in 2003. A number of UK and international studies in neurotoxicity were assessed, but this review did not include an assessment of research at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in the United States.
	In January 2005 the Medical Research Council facilitated a workshop to consider the recommendation of the 2003 MHRAG review to replicate US neuroimaging studies in the UK involving Gulf veterans or another military population with comparable symptoms. A number of relevant US studies were assessed, none of which was undertaken at the Johns Hopkins University.

Housing: Development Restrictions

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will place in the Library of the House the research papers and other documents which underlie the choice by English Nature of a distance of five kilometres as that within which restrictions should be placed on housing development near the southern English heathlands.

Lord Rooker: I have today placed a copy of Natural England's draft publication, Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area: Mitigation Standards for Residential Development, in the Library of the House. This publication sets out Natural England's reasoning for advocating a zonal approach to mitigating the potential effects of increased housing around the Thames Basin Heaths special protection area. Its reasoning is based upon published research reports and visitor surveys which are referenced in this publication.

Immigration: Cross-channel Ferries

The Earl of Shrewsbury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, as part of their strategy to prevent illegal immigrants entering the United Kingdom, they will encourage operators of cross-channel ferries to install closed circuit television systems on vehicle decks.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The layout of the vehicle hold combined with the volume of vehicles would make CCTV ineffective for the purposes of identifying clandestine illegal entrants within the vehicle decks.
	However, since the implementation of juxtaposed controls, the United Kingdom Immigration Service has deployed a number of technological devices both within the United Kingdom control zones at the ports of Calais and Dunkerque and elsewhere to aid the detection of would-be clandestine illegal immigrants.

Japanese Knotweed

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much it costs to eradicate a given area of Japanese knotweed; and what are the estimated annual costs of its eradication (a) to the construction industry; (b) to public authorities owning and maintaining the public realm; and (c) in total, in (i) the United Kingdom, and (ii) England.

Lord Rooker: In 2003, the review of the non-native species policy working group estimated the cost of a Japanese knotweed eradication programme in Great Britain to be approximately £1.56 billion using current techniques. Such a programme would not be realistic in practical or financial terms.
	It is extremely difficult to estimate annual eradication costs to industry or public bodies because the exact distribution of Japanese knotweed is uncertain, as is, as yet, the best method of undertaking any such eradication were it to be attempted. There are currently no detailed data available.
	Defra is contributing £160,000 to a four-year research project into the natural control of Japanese knotweed. The report is due in 2007.

Japanese Knotweed

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will set up and provide funds for a national eradication programme of Japanese knotweed; and
	Whether they will take steps to control Japanese knotweed through the controlled introduction of natural predators.

Lord Rooker: Defra is contributing £160,000 to a four-year scientific research project (due to report in 2007), in collaboration with Cornwall County Council, the Environment Agency and others, into the biological control of Japanese knotweed. The study will undertake the necessary research to establish whether biological control is a feasible method for the long-term, sustainable management of Japanese knotweed in the UK.
	The research has looked at a wide range of possible agents from the home range of Japan and has so far been narrowed down to two potential host-specific agents—a fungus and an insect. Host range testing for these two agents continues to ensure they will attack only Japanese knotweed.
	The cost of a national eradication programme using current techniques is prohibitively expensive, estimated in the Defra review of non-native species policy to be in the region of £1.56 billion. However, the Environment Agency takes local measures if flood defences are compromised (using risk assessment and local knowledge). In Cornwall, a more proactive programme has been implemented by the agency in association with the Cornwall Knotweed Forum.

Judicial Appointments Commission

Lord Morris of Aberavon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On what date the Judicial Appointments Commission, set up under Section 61 of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005, became operational concerning the nomination of members of the judiciary; and whether the commission has sufficient resources to perform its duties.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: I refer the noble Lord to my Written Ministerial Statement of 23 January 2006 which set out the commission's responsibility for making selections for the appointment of judicial office-holders. The JAC has been provided with an appropriate level of funding to carry out its work in light of the overall public expenditure priorities of the Department for Constitutional Affairs.

Music

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What information they have on initiatives taken by orchestras to involve more young people in music; and what encouragement and support they give to such initiatives.

Lord Davies of Oldham: All the UK's leading orchestras operate large-scale education programmes for young people. England's eight main symphony orchestras, funded by Arts Council England, work with almost 100,000 young people each year.
	The Government are committed to supporting music in all its forms. We are achieving this through increased investment—funding for music through Arts Council England has more than doubled since 1997 to over £100 million this year, of which symphony orchestras will receive over £15 million.

NHS: Prescriptions

Baroness Gibson of Market Rasen: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have for informing patients about the proposed electronic transfer of prescriptions; what information and advice will be given about nominated pharmacies; and, in particular, what advice will be given to those patients who are normally dispensed to by their own doctors.

Lord Warner: The initial release of the electronic prescription service was developed to time and to budget in February 2005. It is being deployed in general practitioner practices and community pharmacies nationwide. In this phase of deployment, electronic messages run in parallel with the existing paper prescriptions and the changes from a patient perspective have been minimal. The only difference patients may notice is the addition of a barcode to their paper prescription. An information leaflet for patients has been produced and is available in GP practices and community pharmacies. Evidence to date suggests that patient inquires have been minimal.
	The next release of the service will commence deployment in 2007 and will bring the possibility of fully paperless prescriptions. In addition, patients will be able to nominate a particular dispenser where their (electronic) prescriptions will normally be sent. It is important to note that there is no element of compulsion associated with the nomination of a dispenser. Patients do not have to nominate and are free to revoke or change an existing nomination at any time. To maximise patient convenience, patients who choose to nominate will be able to nominate up to three types of dispensing contractor depending on their individual needs. These can include a dispensing practice, a community pharmacy and a dispensing appliance contractor.
	The communication campaign for the next release is being developed. It is intended that patients will be given full information on the process of nomination which will enable them to decide if (and who) they wish to nominate. It is anticipated that patients who regularly use the same dispenser now—such as a dispensing practice—will continue to do so in future if that is the most convenient option for them. They can do this with or without using the nomination facility.

North Korea: Nuclear Technology

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What measures will be taken by the international community to prevent the transfer of nuclear weapons, material or technology from North Korea to other Governments or to terrorist organisations.

Lord Triesman: Following North Korea's announced test of a nuclear device on 9 October, the UN Security Council (UNSC) adopted Resolution 1718 on 14 October. The resolution contained a number of measures aimed at preventing North Korea's further development of nuclear and missile-related technology by prohibiting the transfer of nuclear or missile-related items to or from North Korea. The resolution was unanimously adopted under Article 41 of Chapter 7 of the UN charter, making these provisions legally binding on all member states. Details of UNSC Resolution 1718 can be found on the UN website at http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N06/572/07/PDF/N0657207.pdf?OpenElement.
	UNSC Resolution 1540, adopted on 28 April 2004,
	"decides also that all States, in accordance with their national procedures, shall adopt and enforce appropriate effective laws which prohibit any non-State actor to manufacture, acquire, possess, develop, transport, transfer or use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their means of delivery, in particular for terrorist purposes".

Public Bodies

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they last published a report on public bodies operating across the United Kingdom.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Information on public bodies sponsored by central government is provided annually in the Cabinet Office publication Public Bodies, which records information as at 31 March each year. The 2006 edition was published on Monday 11 September 2006 and copies are available in the Library for the reference of noble Lords.

Rural Payments Agency

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many applications from new entrants to the entry-level and higher entry-level schemes were accepted by the Rural Payments Agency for each of the years 2004-05 and 2005-06.

Lord Rooker: Environmental Stewardship was launched in March 2005, so the uptake figures below refer to the number of applications approved during the 2005-06 financial year. During this period, the scheme was administered by the Rural Development Service, not the Rural Payments Agency.
	Entry-level stewardship—16,884 (of which 510 were organic entry-level stewardship).
	Higher level stewardship—202 (of which 13 were organic higher level stewardship).

Schools: Sprinklers

Baroness Hanham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will make it a legal requirement that sprinkler systems should be installed in all new and renovated schools.

Lord Adonis: The construction of new schools, and building work at existing schools, is subject to approval under the Building Regulations, which are set by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG). These regulations are aimed at achieving a satisfactory standard of life safety, including in situations where a fire breaks out. They do not require the installation of sprinklers in schools.
	My department issues guidance on fire safety in schools. Our current guide, Managing School Facilities Guide 6, Fire Safety, published in 2000, includes advice on sprinklers (www.teachernet.gov.uk/fire). We include further information on sprinklers in our new guide, Building Bulletin 100 (BB 100), Designing and Managing Against the Risk of Fire in Schools. This sets out how to achieve a satisfactory standard of life safety, and therefore how to meet the requirements of the Building Regulations, and suggests ways of improving property protection. BB 100 is still in draft form and is being revised following public consultation.
	One of the messages that came back from that exercise was the need for the department to issue more detailed guidance on the use of sprinklers in schools, over and above what was already in BB 100. Consequently we commissioned further studies to be carried out. Work on these is nearing completion and additional guidance on sprinklers will be incorporated in the final version of BB100. We expect to publish this early in 2007.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What percentage of sites of special scientific interest by area is currently in a favourable condition.

Lord Rooker: On 12 October 2006, the area of sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) recorded as being in "favourable" condition was 482,807 hectares, which is 45 per cent of the total area of SSSIs in England. A further 305,416 hectares (28.4 per cent) was in "unfavourable recovering" condition, bringing to 73.4 per cent (788,222 hectares) the percentage of SSSI land which is favourable or recovering. This compares with a baseline figure of 56.9 per cent in April 2003, and the target figure of 95 per cent by the end of 2010. Condition assessments are made on the basis of a six-year rolling programme, and all figures reflect the sum of the latest assessments made on the condition of each SSSI management unit.

Taxation: Corporation Tax

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McKenzie of Luton on 11 October (WA 156), what is their estimate of the total amount of corporation tax that will now fall to be repaid to companies following the Cadbury Schweppes decision by the European Court of Justice; and
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McKenzie of Luton on 11 October (WA 156), whether any changes made to the controlled foreign companies rules as a consequence of the Cadbury Schweppes decision by the European Court of Justice will have retrospective effect; and, if not, how much corporation tax they estimate will have been forgone as a result of the decision.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: I refer the noble Baroness to the Answer I gave her on 11 October (Official Report, col, WA 156).

Traffic Management Act 2004

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the current timetable for (a) the consultation; (b) the laying before Parliament; and (c) the implementation of each section of wave 1 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 and how this compares with the original programme for implementation of each section as set out in the press notice issued when the Act received Royal Assent on 22 July 2004; and, where a delay has occurred, what was the reason for that delay.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The current timetable for the consultation dates, the laying of the regulations before Parliament and the implementation of each section of wave 1 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 is shown below.
	
		
			 Wave 1
			  Estimated date for full public consultation Estimated date of laying/making regulations Estimated date of regulations coming into force 
			 Guidance on intervention criteria July-September 2006 Late 2006 Early 2007 
			 Notices, directions and restrictions  Early 2007 Mid-late 2007 
			 Fixed penalty notices  Early 2007 Mid-late 2007 
			 Section 74 overstaying charges  Early 2007 Mid-late 2007 
			 Permits October-December 2006 Mid 2007 Late 2007 
			 Civil parking enforcement July-September 2006 From early 2007 Mid 2007 
			 Civil bus lane and moving traffic enforcement Early-mid 2007 From late 2007 Early 2008 
			 Inspection of blue badges  Mid 2006 Mid-late 2006 
		
	
	Notices, fixed penalty notices and overstaying charges (implementation date as set out in July 2004 was 2005) are now expected to come into force in mid-late 2007. Permit regulations are also expected to come into force in late 2007. These delays have been largely caused by the complexity of the regulations being developed and our emphasis on working closely with all relevant stakeholders. The department considers it important to get the regulations and associated code of practices right and not to create regulations which are unworkable or will not stand the test of time.

Turkey: Human Rights

Lord Patten: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have made, or intend to make, representations to the Government of Turkey concerning the trial in progress of the author Ipek Calislar for allegedly insulting Kemal Atatürk in a recent biography of his wife.

Lord Triesman: The Government continue to raise concerns about freedom of expression with the Turkish Government. My right honourable friend the Minister for Europe, Geoff Hoon, underlined the need for further reforms to enhance freedom of expression during his visit to Turkey on 11 September, and my right honourable friend the Prime Minister relayed a similar message when he met his Turkish counterpart on 3 October.
	We are aware of the prosecution of writer Ipek Calislar under A301 of the Turkish penal code. We will follow her trial closely and raise her case in our representations to the Turkish Government on freedom of expression.